what Matters Final Presentation

PLN 26

I read an article called "Pocket Texting and Open Phone Tests " on Weblogg-ed which talked about how a boy named Isoo decided to use technology to benefit his education. This boy uses his cell phone to send an SMS. He composes an entire text message and turns on the PC. He then uses this to communicate with others. Let's say he has a difficult math problem as homework. He posts it up on Naver Knowledge iN, a popular online Q&A service with some 70 million entries. Within about 10 minutes of posting, someone chimes in with a good answer, and he them with some “Knowledge Power” points — knowledge-based economy in action among 14-year-olds. I think this is a great idea since teens are so into using new technology and their phones. It also will be nice for people to communicate to others and to help with others. Though it shouldn't always be that they are getting straight answers.
Though it could be a bad idea because it could encourage students to text more often about nothing. So maybe it could only be used at home. Overall, I think this is a really cool thing to do.

PLN 25

I have read an article called "Why are kids Failing" by Michele Davis who talks about how many of her students are failing. I also wonder why some students fail or rather why they choose to. To me, I take my grades very seriously and I know that some people just don't care about school or grades. Well, the question is why? If you are failing, why do you choose to fail? Why do you not care about your grades? I believe that your grades are so important and can determine what you do in the future. I remember someone talking about this in my class and had said how it is kind of an insult to the teacher as well because they spent a lot of time trying to come up with new ideas for work and try to make it more fun. But for you not to do them is like saying that they waste their time working to help you get a good education. My only advice would e to work harder, though I know that you don't want to work. But just think about who you want to be when you are older. Maybe a boss of your own company or maybe you still don't care and you choose to be a garbage man? Your choice, make it wisely.

PLN 24

I found an article off of ethanl's blog called "Town may criminalize online harassment" by Greg Toppo about a young girl named Megan Meier who died over an online "boyfriend".

Megan Meier was said to have been friends with one girl and their friendship seemed to have faded off. However, Megan, age 14 found a great 16 year old guy named Josh Evans on myspace. They became pretty close after awhile, but then something went wrong. He began to call her names and harass her and other people even joined in on the harassment! They were calling her names and saying how she wasn't a good friend. (This was related to her recent problems with her friend). Megan became so depressed over this "boyfriend" and decided to commit suicide! It turns out that the parents later found out that Josh Evans never existed. It was the mother of Megan's old friend and the mother wanted to find out what Megan was saying about her. 

So what do you think, is this suicide the mothers fault for harassing her, or do you think it was totally un-necessary? Personally, I think it was ridiculous for her to commit suicide over a boy.  No boy is that important when you are a teen to want to be with him all the time or do everything he wants you to do for him. My parents constantly remind me of how their will be many times where guys will pressure girls into doing certain things and a lot of girls are o effected by them. Just like Megan. Though you could also argue that the mother should not have done something so mean. There are so many problems with harassment online. I'm not sure this will or can be stopped. All I can say is to be careful to who you are talking to. 

PLN 23

I have read an article called Giving thanks by MFerrill who talks about how he feels thankful for having such a great experience here at Arapaho as a teacher and how he feels thankful that we are a school with new and great opportunities with technology.
I agree with Ferrill about feeling lucky to go to this school. I have been introduced to many new things in our classrooms that many other schools have never seen or won't ever see. I am lucky to be able to use a laptop in my English class. I am lucky to be able to take notes from a PowerPoint while a teacher gives their lecture. There are so many new opportunities on the computers today that help us expand our learning, the Internet especially. Also blogger, and PowerPoint, and others. However, just thinking about this makes you wonder how much of this we are truly thankful for and how much we take for granted. I think we take to much of this world for granted without ever stopping to think about how we would survive without it. I'm not saying we need to think about it every single second, but once in a while, just stop and think about how blessed you really are compared to most others.